WorkSafe ACT cracks down on residential construction safety

WorkSafe ACT has committed to protecting workers in the residential construction industry. In 2020, it developed a Residential Construction Strategy, supported by Operation Safe prospect. The safety regulator’s ongoing campaign focused on increasing workplace visits to the territory’s residential construction sites to drive improved compliance. Since the launch of Operation Safe Prospect, WorkSafe ACT has carried out 2101 workplace inspections and engaged with industry bodies, unions, builders, tradespeople, workers and their representatives.

During the 2022–23 financial year, WorkSafe ACT visited 868 residential construction sites, issued 44 infringement notices, 1002 improvement notices and 430 prohibition notices. Despite these repeated enforcement notices and engagement with WorkSafe inspectors, there has been little change in safety behaviours and recurrent non-compliance by a number of residential construction businesses.

In response to these findings, the ACT’s Work Health and Safety Commissioner, Jacqueline Agius, advised repeat offenders that WorkSafe ACT will strengthen its regulatory approach to ensure the safety message gets through. The commissioner said continued non-compliance will not be tolerated, adding that she will focus on investigating and prosecuting identified repeat offenders that continuously fail to keep their workers safe.

“It is clear to me that some builders in the ACT do not understand their WHS obligations. I want to remind businesses that it is their duty to ensure the health and safety of their workers. Having workers across multiple sites at the same time does not dilute your WHS duties. Some PCBUs in the residential construction industry are on relying on WorkSafe ACT to ensure they have a safe system of work instead of fulfilling their obligations to create a safe workplace for workers. There are many reputable residential builders who understand safety is not an option, it is law,” Agius said.

Michael Hopkins, CEO of Master Builders ACT, stressed the impact of repeat offenders in the construction industry. “It is important that every employer and worker on a residential building site makes safety their number one priority. People who show repeated and blatant disregard for safety laws have no place in our industry and only make it harder for the many reputable companies who exemplify workplace safety,” Hopkins said.

Image credit: iStock.com/Panupong Piewkleng